$54M Hyatt Centric hotel debuts in Puerto Rico
Hyatt Centric has entered the Puerto Rico market with the opening of Hyatt Centric San Juan Isla Verde, a 223-room lifestyle hotel that becomes the sixth Hyatt property on the island and the first under the Hyatt Centric brand.
The project began with a $24 million acquisition of the former Hotel Verdanza by HJ Partners LLC, a partnership between Interlink and Vivo Beach Club, with financing support from FirstBank Puerto Rico and the Cooperative Bank of Puerto Rico.
More than $30 million was invested in redesigning and renovating rooms, restaurants, bars, cafés and public spaces, work the partners said was “inspired by the enchanting landscape of Puerto Rico.”
“The opening of the Hyatt Centric San Juan Isla Verde marks a significant moment for tourism in Puerto Rico, the result of an exemplary collaboration between local talent, capital and effort,” said Federico J. Sánchez-Ortiz, president of Interlink and co-owner of the hotel.
He added that “the arrival of Hyatt Centric San Juan Isla Verde represents an investment in our people and our industry, and a solid commitment to the economic development and future of Puerto Rico as a destination.”
The renovation and construction generated 275 direct and 413 indirect jobs. The property now employs more than 120 people and supports more than 180 indirect positions.
The Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC, in Spanish) said the opening “is a clear demonstration of the private sector’s confidence in our island’s potential.”
Located less than a block from Isla Verde Beach, the hotel includes a signature restaurant and bar, an open-air beer garden, a locally inspired café, a gym and more than 16,000 square feet of meeting space.
Outdoor features include a pool terrace surrounded by tropical landscaping and a poolside restaurant and bar with a mural by Puerto Rican artist duo Dos Pinceles.
Hyatt Centric San Juan Isla Verde also becomes the first hotel in Puerto Rico with an integrated beach club through its partnership with Vivo Beach Club.
The offering includes direct transportation, access to four restaurants, three swimming pools, more than 50,000 square feet of event space, a widely regarded music venue and Ocean Lab Brewing Co., home of the “Best Tap Room in the USA.”
“This project presents an unprecedented offering on the island by integrating the hotel with Vivo Beach Club, creating a complete universe of experiences that combines design, gastronomy, entertainment and the beach,” said Luis and Matías Fernández, co-owners of the property.
The hotel is managed by Highgate Hotels, which also operates the AC Hotel San Juan Condado, Residence Inn by Marriott San Juan Isla Verde and the Embassy Suites by Hilton San Juan Hotel & Casino.
General Manager Dariana Mercado said the transformation “reflects the best of Puerto Rican talent and the power of collaboration,” adding that it positions the property as “a new benchmark in Puerto Rico, elevating the local tourism offerings.”
